A local initiative to encourage civil discourse within our community is seeking volunteers to participate in a series of dialogues facilitated by trained individuals. Please see more information below. Anyone interested in participating in the dialogues may email
WHSPTSOPres@gmail.com and your name will be passed along to the initiative's organizers.
Background
The Wellesley Civil Discourse Initiative was launched in March 2021 by a group of volunteers for the purpose of helping our community engage in open and inclusive conversations that strengthen our sense of connection and build understanding. We are worried by what we see and hear in our town – verbal sparring and personal attacks on social media, public criticisms laced with harsh language and hyperbole, disagreements resulting in disregard, all making it harder than ever to hear each other. We are inviting local faith groups and local PTO members to participate in this dialogue series to help create a different kind of conversation that brings together people with diverse views to talk to each other in an atmosphere of respect and trust.
Three-Part Dialogue Series on Values
This three-part dialogue series will explore our personal values and how those values are reflected in our contributions to the community and in how we engage with one another. We will consider what our current public discourse is modeling for our children and develop communications agreements that will support productive engagement even when we have strong differences of opinion and perspective.
Each dialogue will be led on Zoom by one or two trained facilitators in Reflective Structured Dialogue. The first and second dialogues will involve a structured conversation in which people will take turns responding to specific questions with time for open conversation and questions of genuine interest. The dialogue groups will choose a topic for the third dialogue. Proposed dates:
Dialogue 1, Thursday, January 27, 7:00 to 9:00 pm: Share personal values and experiences, and what being a part of this community means to us.
Dialogue 2, Thursday, February 3, 7:00 to 9:00 pm: Identify the values we want to see reflected in how we talk to each other and create communication agreements that reflect those values.
Dialogue 3, Thursday, February 17, 7:00 to 9:00 pm: Apply our communication agreements and practice deep engagement on a topic chosen by participants that is affecting our schools and/or community.
Goals of this dialogue series:
- To explore our personal and community values and how they drive our commitment and contribution to the community
- To engage in a process of conversation that helps us to see Wellesley at our best, relating in ways that demonstrate our values
- To create communication agreements that can support our community in respectful listening and engagement on issues where we may disagree
- To model for our children and each other the power and possibility of civil discourse on even the most complex, challenging issues
The dialogue groups will be composed of five to seven people and each group will meet three times. Our plan is for each dialogue group to include people with a mix of religious traditions, life experiences, demographics, and perspectives to create opportunities for people to speak candidly about their values and the experiences that have shaped them, as well as to listen open-heartedly to others. We ask that all participants are adults or older, mature teens.
Volunteer Commitment
Volunteer participants are asked to commit to participating in all three dialogues. Our plan is to hold all dialogues via Zoom. Facilitators will speak with each participant before the first dialogue to discuss any hopes, expectations, and concerns.
Our Consultants
Support
Funding for this dialogue series was granted from the R.W. Babson Fund by the Wellesley Select Board. There is no cost to participants.
